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Doc Talk: Venturing Beyond a Master's

Doc Talk: Venturing Beyond a Master's

Written by: Allison
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Several years after earning her second Master's Degree, host, Allison Marschean captured this in her iNotes on 11/6/2013: "I want to get a PhD in something. Just having one interests me...I've thought about it a lot and it came to mind again today. What would I get it in?? Hummm??"Doc Talk: Venturing Beyond a Master's came about as a way for Allison to answer that very question. By talking with people who have "been there and done that", Allison seeks to get a better understanding of what it really takes to venture beyond a Master's and intends to help others, with similar questions, along the way. Allison interviews men and women from all walks of life who fall into one of several categories:1. have earned a doctoral degree2. are in the midst of earning a doctoral degree3. are contemplating earning a doctoral degree4. began a doctoral program and did not complete it for one reason or anotherHer candid conversations with guests cover topics ranging from how they selected a doctoral program, to financing, to fondest memories during those demanding years of study.© 2025 Doc Talk: Venturing Beyond a Master's Careers Economics Personal Success Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • Ep.43 Mr. Tony Fantasia: How Susceptible are You to Influence?
    Dec 10 2021

    One of Tony's hypotheses is that people who are generally unaware of global current events and global history are more susceptible to influence because they don't know what little warning signs to look for, so they take something at face value and say, "It doesn't impact me right now at my home, so it's not worth paying attention to."
    If you haven't listened to Episode 42, do! We are following Tony's journey, literally from DAY 1 in his PhD program all the way through the end! Forever grateful for the idea Dr. Jean Wilson!
    Today, Tony shares how he's narrowing his research focus. He's exploring the factors that make some people more susceptible to being influenced by information warfare and game theory than others.
    I find Tony’s PhD dissertation work fascinating. Someone shared this recent story about NZ with me today that really drives one of Tony’s points home. https://www.facebook.com/100008350861206/videos/1104487263673891/
    Since you’ve read this far ;-). Please enjoy this family Pecan Pie recipe! My mom made this during the Christmas holidays when I was growing up. It’s so amazingly delicious- there’s one Christmas my siblings and I don’t remember eating anything except pecan pie! Day and night, those pies were our “fuelings”.
    Quick Southern Pecan Pie
    1 cup of sugar
    1/4 Cup melted butter
    1/2 Cup corn syrup (I used to use dark, but have been using the clear Karo for many years now)
    3 well beaten eggs
    1 Cup pecan halves
    1 uncooked pie shell
    Mix sugar, syrup, and butter, add eggs and pecans. Fill unbaked pie shell with mixture and bake for 10 minutes at 400°, then for 30 to 35 minutes at 350°. Serve either cold or hot.
    Enjoy!!

    Tony completed his undergrad at American Military University with a Bachelors in IT Management and earned his MBA with a focus in IT Management from the same institution. He's currently enrolled in a PhD program at the University of North Texas in the School of Information Science.
    Please share this episode and others with your friends and family!

    Early in his career, Tony served as an Army combat medic. It was during a deployment to Afghanistan in the Spring of 2000 when he developed a web-based trauma catalogue to support the efforts at the combat support hospital where he was assigned.

    At the time he didn't know it, but it was his work during that deployment that ultimately led him to pursue a PhD in his current field of study.

    Tony is a fantastic artist and skilled in leather work. View his work using the links below.

    I'd love to hear how you're enjoying the podcast! Please leave a review here and wherever you listen to your podcasts. I'd certainly appreciate it. It helps me improve the show and tailor it more to your needs and the needs of other listeners.

    Connect with Tony:

    www.facebook.com/fantasiacustomdesigns
    www.fantasiacustomdesigns.com
    www.vetcraft.org
    https://tonyfantasia.wixsite.com/traumamed
    Join the Doc Talk Community: The Doctoral Collaborative: Venturing Beyond a Master's | Facebook
    Like The Doc Talk Page: https://www.facebook.com/beyondamasters

    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • Ep42. Tony Fantasia: Information Warfare & Advanced Game Theory
    Nov 25 2021

    If you haven't listened to Episodes 27 and 32, definitely go back and listen! We are following Tony's journey, literally from DAY 1 in his PhD program all the way through the end! Forever grateful for the idea Dr. Jean Wilson!

    In today's episode, Mr. Tony Fantasia shares how he's narrowed/narrowing down his research focus. He's exploring the factors that make some people more susceptible to being influenced by information warfare and game theory than others.


    Tony completed his undergrad at American Military University with a Bachelors in IT Management and earned his MBA with a focus in IT Management from the same institution. He's currently enrolled in a PhD program at the University of North Texas in the School of Information Science.

    Please share this episode and others with your friends and family!

    Today, Tony is the Lead Data Scientist with the Air Force Civil Engineering Command - Air Force Installation Management Service Command and had just completed his first day of school for his doctoral program when we connected!

    Early in his career, Tony served as an Army combat medic. It was during a deployment to Afghanistan in the Spring of 2000 when he developed a web-based trauma catalogue to support the efforts at the combat support hospital where he was assigned.

    At the time he didn't know it, but it was his work during that deployment that ultimately led him to pursue a PhD in his current field of study.

    Tony is a fantastic artist and skilled in leather work. View his work using the links below.

    I'd love to hear how you're enjoying the podcast! Please leave a review here and wherever you listen to your podcasts. I'd certainly appreciate it. It helps me improve the show and tailor it more to your needs and the needs of other listeners.

    Connect with Tony:

    www.facebook.com/fantasiacustomdesigns
    www.fantasiacustomdesigns.com
    www.vetcraft.org
    https://tonyfantasia.wixsite.com/traumamed

    Join the Doc Talk Community: The Doctoral Collaborative: Venturing Beyond a Master's | Facebook
    Like The Doc Talk Page: https://www.facebook.com/beyondamasters

    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Ep41. Back in the Saddle
    Nov 10 2021

    Hello Everyone! The Show is back! This is very brief episode to bring you up to speed on what's been going on.

    Something I didn't mention in this episode is what I found most surprising about my run for the Local School Board! I discovered that many of the community members who supported my campaign and who felt aligned with my platform were people who do not even have children in the local school district. Many of them fell into the following categories:

    - Young couples with either no children or very young, non-school aged
    - Empty nesters who have no school aged children
    - Parents of children who are homeschooled
    - Parents of children in local private schools

    Believe it or not, and this is a small private college town, and several of my supporters have NOT even lived in the State for a full year yet!

    These discoveries really struck me; I couldn't help but take note. Of course I, as a parent of school aged children feel school boards and the decisions their members make are a BIG DEAL. But there is something to be said when people who have no direct "skin in the game" are just as involved as those of us who do. I was very encouraged and motivated when I came to this realization. It really opened my eyes to the significance of the American spirit and how people who care will get involved no matter what.
    #ChampionforChildren

    Check out my Campaign Webpage. It will be up through November 2021. https://aamarschean.poliengine.com/


    I'd love to hear how you're enjoying the podcast! Please leave a review here and wherever you listen to your podcasts. I'd certainly appreciate it. It helps me improve the show and tailor it more to your needs and the needs of other listeners.

    Join the Doc Talk Community: The Doctoral Collaborative: Venturing Beyond a Master's | Facebook
    Like The Doc Talk Page: https://www.facebook.com/beyondamasters

    Show More Show Less
    7 mins
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